Hebron is a Palestinian city located in the southern West Bank, 30 km south of Jerusalem. Nestled in the Judaean Mountains, it lies 930 meters above sea level. It is the largest city in the West Bank, and the second largest in the Palestinian territories after Gaza, and home to approximately 250,000 Palestinians, and between 500 and 850 Jewish settlers concentrated in Otniel settlement and around the old quarter. The city is divided into two sectors: H1, controlled by the Palestinian Authority and H2, roughly 20% of the city, administered by Israel. The settlers are governed by their own municipal body, the Committee of the Jewish Community of Hebron. The city is most notable for containing the traditional burial site of the biblical Patriarchs and Matriarchs and is therefore considered the second-holiest city in Judaism after Jerusalem. The city is also venerated by Muslims for its association with Abraham and was traditionally viewed as one of the "four holy cities of Islam."
Hebron, Palestine, 2012.

Hasim 18 is a resident of Aida camp. Aida is a Palestinian refugee camp situated 2 kilometers North of Bethlehem. The camp had a population of approximately 3,260 refugees. In the distance the settlement of Gilo sits on top of the hill. Gilo is an Israeli settlement with a population of 40,000, mostly Jewish. It is one of the five ring neighborhoods of Jerusalem and is built on land in the West Bank that was annexed to Israel in 1980 under the Jerusalem Law. The international community regards it as an Israeli settlement that is illegal under international law, although Israel disputes this. A tall concrete wall prevents Hasim from getting to Gilo. the Israelis argue that the number of suicide bombers have dropped dramatically sine the creation of the wall. Hasim speaks little English but manages to communicate that his only desire is to keep his job as a waiter in the Intercontinental Hotel outside the camps wall.
Aida Camp, Palestine, 2012.

Palestinian, muslim man.

The church of the Nativity is occupied by three religions: Roman Catholics, Greek Orthodox and Armenian Orthodox. Unfortunately they provide a very poor example of Christian behavior since each one jealously guards their slice of territory and even have lines drawn on the floor to differentiate their area of control. They all also lay claim to controlling the "Key to the sculls". The sculls being the remains of the children which King Herod ordered to be killed shortly after Jesus was born, in an attempt to kill Jesus.

Israeli soldier.

The Jewish community has been subject to attacks by Palestinian militants, especially during the periods of the Intifadas; which saw 3 fatal stabbings and 9 fatal shootings in between the first and second Intifada and 17 fatal shootings (9 soldiers and 8 settlers) and 2 fatalities from a bombing during the second Intifada, and thousands of rounds fired on it from the hills above the Abu-Sneina and Harat al-Sheikh neighbourhoods. 12 Israeli soldiers were killed in an ambush. Two Temporary International Presence in Hebron observers were killed by Palestinian gunmen in a shooting attack on the road to Hebron.
Israeli organization B'Tselem states that there have been "grave violations" of Palestinian human rights in Hebron because of the "presence of the settlers within the city." The organization cites regular incidents of "almost daily physical violence and property damage by settlers in the city", curfews and restrictions of movement that are "among the harshest in the Occupied Territories", and violence and by Israeli border policemen and the IDF against Palestinians who live in the city's H2 sector. According to Human Rights Watch, Palestinian areas of Hebron are frequently subject to indiscriminate firing by the IDF, leading to many casualties. One former IDF soldier, with experience in policing Hebron, has testified to Breaking the Silence, that on the briefing wall of his unit a sign describing their mission aim was hung that read:"To disrupt the routine of the inhabitants of the neighbourhood.
Hebron, Palestine, 2012.

Young man carrying a gun whilst enjoying a walk along one of Jerusalem’s busiest streets.
Civilians are allowed to carry guns in Israel for protection in case of a terrorist attack.
Jerusalem, Israel, 2012.

Children running along the streets of Mea Shearim.
For more on Mea Shearim please visit the "Meet the people" gallery.
Jerusalem, Israel, 2012.

Palestinian, Muslim woman.

Antonius is a Greek orthodox monk serving in the church of the nativity. The church is divided between three religious groups. The Greek orthodox, the Armenian and the Catholic. During the centuries they have had their fair share of arguments and disagreements but none as mysterious as who holds the key to the sculls of the children. Antonius opens the gate with his key, then leads me down some stairs and as I am faced with a few dozen small sculls he explains. These are the sculls of the children whom King Herod killed in an attempt to kill the newly born Jesus Christ. Sounds like an episode of Indiana Jones? Probably to you and me. But to Antonius this is as real as anything, and as the hordes of tourists trample the floor of the church above us, down here in the Catacombs bible stories just gain a totally different meaning.
Bethlehem, Palestine, 2012.

Supporters argue that the barrier is necessary to protect Israeli civilians from Palestinian terrorism, including the suicide bombing attacks that increased significantly during the Second Intifada There has been a reduced number of incidents of suicide bombings since the construction of the barrier.
Opponents of the barrier object that the route substantially deviates from the Green Line into the occupied territories captured by Israel in the Six-Day War of 1967. They argue that the barrier is an illegal attempt to annex Palestinian land under the guise of security.
Aida refugee camp, Bethlehem, Palestine, 2012.

People praying at the wailing wall.
Jerusalem, Israel, 2012.

And they compelled one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross.
Mark 15:21
Jesus fell to the ground under the weight of the heavy cross, but before he did he leaned against the wall with his hand creating an indentation. A reminder of Jesus suffering for millions of Christians
Palestinian Muslim children today walk past it on their way to school without giving it a second thought.
Via Dolorosa, Jerusalem, Israel, 2012.

A Hasidim Jew looks through some holy books at a street stall in the ultra-Orthodox neighbourhood of Mea Shearim,
For more on the Hasidim please visit "the people of Mea Shaerim" under the "meet the people" gallery.
Jerusalem,Israel, 2012.

Palestinian, muslim student.

An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. Get up, he said, take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him. So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. when Herod realised that he had been outwitted, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under. Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: "A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more."
Matthew (2)
The skulls of the children killed by Herod resting in a celler under lock and key below the church of the Holy Sepulchre.
Bethlehem, Palestine, 2012.

Son consoles his drunken father with the use of the Torah at a synagogue during the festival of Purim.
For more on drinking during Purim please visit "the people of Mea Shaerim" under the "meet the people" gallery.
Mea Shaerim, Jerusalem,Israel, 2012

With no TV, radio or internet the residents of Mea Shearim rely on street advertising for local news and events mostly of a religious nature.
Mea Shearim, Jerusalem, Israel, 2012.

With no TV, radio or internet the residents of Mea Shearim rely on street advertising for local news and events mostly of a religious nature.
Mea Shearim, Jerusalem, Israel, 2012.

The Rabbis of the Talmud said, "A person is obligated to drink on Purim until he can no longer distinguish between "cursed is Haman and blessed is Mordachai." This statement of the early rabbis who lived during the Talmud (about 1700-1800 years ago) had caused much concern by the later rabbis.
For more on drinking during Purim please visit "the people of Mea Shaerim" under the "meet the people" gallery.
Drunk Haredim at a synagogue in the district of Mea Shaerim during the Purim celebrations, Jerusalem, Israel, 2012.

Palestinian, muslim university student.

Soldiers of the IDF on security duties in the Muslim quarter protecting the Jews as they make there way to the wailing wall.
Jerusalem, Israel, 2012.

Jewish family during the festival of Purim.
Jerusalem, Israel, 2012.

Jewish youth gather in a building site to watch the Purim celebrations in the street below.
For more on Purim please visit "the people of Mea Shaerim" under the "meet the people" gallery.
Mea Shearim, Jerusalem, Israel, 2012.

Ajdot 18 is currently doing her military service with the IDF. She waits for the bus early in the morning at the bus station in the Arab town of Akko. From here she will travel buy public bus to the border with Lebanon where she will carry out observation duties on the hostile neighbor. Although she is required to do a minimum of two years service, Ajdot would like to go for promotion and serve for an extra two years.
Akko, Israel, 2012.

Palestinian, muslim young student.

Palestinian, muslim Sheppard boy.

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